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NEW ZEALAND Cricketer Jesse Ryder is in Christchurch Hospital with injuries including a fractured skull, a punctured lung and internal bleeding after being attacked by several men in a bar early this morning.

Police said they were investigating the incident at Aikman's Bar in the Christchurch suburb of Merivale after a fight broke out in the bar then spilled onto the pavement in the early hours of today.

They confirmed the incident involved Ryder and said more details would be revealed at a press conference later today.

It is understood Ryder, 28, was confronted by several men just after midnight during a night out with his Wellington Firebirds team mates in what a witness called an "unprovoked" attack.

Radio New Zealand reported Ryder, who is currently on self-imposed exile from the Black Caps squad to get his personal issues in order, was in a coma with critical injuries.

A witness, who only wanted to be known as Adam, told Stuff.co.nz that Ryder had his shirt ripped off his back and was on the ground as four men kicked and punched him outside the bar.

Ryder was lying in a bush "shaking, vomiting and covered in blood" in the carpark of McDonald's, which was across the road from the bar.